JULY 15, 1862:
The Battle of Apache Pass, Arizona
Territory. 120 men of The Union’s California Column are attacked by 500 Apaches
just short of the springs at Apache Pass. A wicked firefight ensued.
Although
badly outnumbered and in desperate need of water, the Californians eventually
drove off the Apaches once their artillery train arrived.
Approximately 70 Apaches were killed, and five
Union men. A party of settlers had also been killed in the area just before the
battle.
As a result, the Union established Fort Bowie at the Pass immediately
thereafter. With the establishment of the fort, the last Confederate forces in
the Territory withdrew to Texas, restoring the area to the United States. It
was the largest battle between the Americans and the Chiricahua during the Apache
Wars.
Warfare is a fascinating subject. Despite the dubious morality of using violence to achieve personal or political aims. It remains that conflict has been used to do just that throughout recorded history.
ReplyDeleteYour article is very well done, a good read.